Bicycle paths and infrastructure

This convenient and mobile transport has long been popular with Belarusians, especially in rural areas where almost every family has one or more bicycles.

But at present Belarus focuses on the development of urban infrastructure for cyclists. Bikeways are built, bicycle parking racks and road signs for cyclists are being installed and separate lanes on cities’ sidewalks are being marked.

New residential districts of Minsk and other cities are built taking into account cyclists’ needs. Wide sidewalks are separated into two lanes, one for pedestrians and the other for cyclists. Descents and low curbs are also made with cyclists in mind.

Roadsides along main intercity roads are separated by traffic lane markings. Motorists do not usually use roadsides, so cyclists can ride a bike there. Some sections feature special lanes for cyclists.

However, you should be careful and follow traffic rules for the sake of your own safety.

Bikeways in Minsk

A concept to create a cycle traffic system was adopted in the Belarusian capital in 2011. Minsk is gradually becoming increasingly comfortable for fans of cycling tours.

According to plans 500km of bike paths should appear in Minsk: 50km of main bikeways and 450km of combined paths for pedestrians and cyclists. A network of six bicycle tourism routes is going to be created for sightseeing in Minsk.

Currently some bikeways in Minsk are already popular with both locals and guests of the city.

The longest bikeway in Minsk (27km), which opened in September 2009, crosses almost the entire city from the northwest to the southeast (from the Drozdy reservoir to the Chizhovskoye reservoir).

It passes along the Svisloch River through the most picturesque places of Minsk: Pobeditelei Avenue, Victory Park, Yanka Kupala Park and Gorky Park... This bike path also connects Minsk Arena and Chizhovka Arena which becamethe main venues of the IIHF Hockey Championship 2014.

The width of the track is 2.5-3m. During the warm season mobile bicycle rentals operate here along with Minsk’s first bicycle cafe on the bank of the Svisloch River.

Another interesting bike path is situated in the historic part of Minsk, Loshitsa Park, where the manor of the 18-19th centuries and ancient buildings of the former brewery are located (the complex is undergoing renovations).

Those who would like to go for an outing can take the bike pathLogoisky Trakt-Raubichi, which was built along the motorway M3 in 1980. The 15km route starts from the Minsk ring road and leads to the sports complex Raubichi.

Bicycle rentals in Minsk

Bicycle sharing system is not developed in Minsk: there are no automated bicycle sharing stations.

However, you can rent a bike for some time (a few hours or days) and return it to the same rental station. Such services are provided by the following agencies:

the city rental network (during the warm season additional mobile stations are open in city parks and along bike paths)

Bicycle rental prices may vary depending on the original cost of the bike. You can also rent pumps, baby seats and other equipment.

If you do not return the bike on time or damage it, you will have to pay an additional fee.

Bike trails and excursions

During the warm season this eco-friendly transport is especially popular with tourists. New bike routes regularly appear in Belarus. They are equipped with information signs, bicycle parking racks and places for recreation.

A beautiful bike route runs through the Nalibokskaya Pushcha reserve in Minsk Oblast. It will be expanded to 150km.

A cycling route with the length of over 200km was built in Mogilev Oblast.

A 6.5km bikeway and the routes for cyclists and pedestrians Augustow Canal, Green Ring and Fortifications of General Karbyshev have been created in the park along the famous Augustow Canal where a multi-recreational complex will be built. Summerhouses, information stands, fences, bridges and places for recreation can be found along the bikeway there.

Interesting cross-border cycling routes already exist or are being created in line with the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus cooperation program:

Miory World Tour (415km across Belarus and Latvia)

bike trails in Glubokoye District (the project “Development of cycle routs network in Baltic Lakeland”)

Bike routes are being created in Belarus’ Oshmyany (1.8km) and Grodno (the tourist route Chalky Mountains with the length of 30.5km) and in Lithuania’s Birstonas and Alytus. The bikeways in the two countries should link Grodno and the Druskininkai.